Birdman of Alcatraz

You will see all the man-made and natural beauties

of the most spectacular bay in the world.

You'll pass beneath the famous Golden Gate Bridge,

considered to be one of the most striking structures ever erected by man.

From the bay, you will thrill to the magnificent San Francisco skyline.

Your cruise ship, the Harbour King, will circle Alcatraz,

a maximum-security prison containing the most dangerous criminals in America,

and has been the home of such notorious figures as Al Capone,

Baby Face Nelson and Machine Gun Kelly.

That's the island of Alcatraz.

There's a man leaving there today after 17 years' imprisonment.

His name is Robert Stroud.

He's spent most of his life behind bars,

including 43 years in solitary confinement.

He has never used a telephone or driven an automobile.

The last time he broke bread with another human being was in 1916,

the year Kaiser Wilhelm ordered the sinking of the Lusitania in World War I.

My name is Tom Gaddis. I wrote a book about this man.

Our story properly begins in the year 1912.

A cargo of rebellious prisoners was being transferred

from the federal penitentiary at McNeil Island, Washington, to The Big Top,

the name given by convicts to the prison at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Shut up!

Make one more move and I'll take you off at the neck.

Robert F Stroud.

Breaking that window was a serious offence.

It was hot. I was thinking of my lungs.

Did you think about the consequences? You might have started a riot.

- Even a convict's got a right to breathe. - Rights?

I don't think you know the meaning of the word.

In 1909, in Alaska, you appointed yourself judge, jury and executioner

and killed one... Charles Dahmer

because he allegedly beat up a friend named Katie Malone... a prostitute.

You were transferred here to Leavenworth because of an inferior record.

Now, I propose to give you a fresh start.

Such rights as you will enjoy are listed here in my rules and regulations.

There are 86. I suggest you memorise them.

I know 'em. They're the same in all pens.

They tell you when to eat, when to sleep, when to go to the privy.

Precisely. And what you'll do for every minute 24 hours a day.

You're going to be here for nine long years, Stroud.

So with or without your cooperation, I intend to make a man of you,

before you check out these gates.

You'll conform to our ideas of how you should behave.

You'll learn the lesson now or five years from now, but you'll learn.

For breaking that train window, all your privileges are suspended for 30 days.

That's all, Mr Ransom.

Let's go.

You're one of the new fish from McNeil, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah, well, I'm Tony Qualen. Who are you?

Stroud.

You're lucky to be in this cellblock.

Boss here's a friend of mine.

Picture of your mother?

Put it back.

Put it back!

What did I do?

Just don't touch it again.

You know the guy you're bunking with? Anthony?

Understand you and him had a little misunderstanding.

Anthony is a friend of mine.

A very good friend.

He didn't mean nothin', pickin' up the picture.

Beat it.

What kind of nut are you anyway? Just because he picked up a picture of Mama?

Break it up!

Stroud! Stroud!

You ever mention my mother again, I'll kill ya!

Stroud.

What's the matter, man?

What's eating you up inside, Bob?

You act as though you hate everyone.

You live in a pus-hole, you act accordingly.

All right, Bob. Maybe 30 days in the hole'll make you happy to see a face again.

Don't count on it... Harvey.

I don't think 30 days in the hole is gonna cool that jaybird off, Warden.

Now, what do you suggest, Mr Kramer?

He's as mean as a boar hog.

If it was me, I'd keep him away from the rest of the inmates permanently.

Isolation? No.

I don't give up on a man that easily.

Stroud comes from good stock. He'll shape up.

He's a dingbat, Warden.

He's dangerous.

He's my responsibility, Mr Kramer.

Now, you let me worry about his behaviour.

Yes, sir.

All right, Stroud.

Dearest Mother. I am feeling fine. Hope you are the same.

Everything is OK at this end.

Time sure does fly.

Yesterday was my fourth anniversary here,

but I got no cake. Ha-ha.

I guess everything would be all right if I could just see you

and give you a great big hug.

I hope your cold is better.

Your loving son, Robbie.

Dearest Robbie. I was here today to see you,

but they would not let me in, it being Saturday,

with no visiting allowed.

But I saw Warden Shoemaker,

and he was kind enough to arrange for a visit next Friday.

Until then, my darling,

this little gift of fruit comes with all my love. Mother.

Guard, guard! Mr Kramer!

- What do you want? - Did you know my mother was here?

- Yeah. - Why didn't you call me?

You know the rules. No visitors on Saturday.

That all you got in you? Rules?

Stop bellyaching. She said she'd be here next week. You can see her then.

You ain't got much, but you keep subtracting from it.

Don't you know I gotta put you on report for touching a guard?

Mr Kramer...

If you shoot me on report, I won't get no visit from my mother.

You should have thought of that before.

She came 2,000 miles. All the way from Alaska.

Do me this one favour.

I just follow the rules. Now get back to your seat.

- I tell you, I got to see her. - And I told you to get back to your seat.

You ain't a man, Kramer. You're dog puke.

I just came from Kramer's widow.

I couldn't look her in the eye, Stroud.

I feel responsible for her husband's death. He warned me about you.

He told me you were dangerous, but I wouldn't listen.

And how he's cold in his grave.

You've taken the lives of two people and haven't felt a twinge of conscience.

What do you want me to do? Cry? Say I'm sorry?

I'm only sorry for Kramer's wife.

- And the dead man? - He was fixing to brain me with his club.

I protected myself.

No remorse, huh?

No pity. Just an animal.

Ain't that what these cages are for? Animals?

I have to make out a report about this killing.

I hope it'll help to hang you.

Stroud had three trials. The first one was declared a mistrial.

In the second, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

He appealed and was granted a third trial.

On June 28, 1918, he heard the final verdict.

Therefore it is now by the court considered, ordered and adjudged

that you be remanded to the custody of the warden of Leavenworth penitentiary

and kept in solitary confinement there until the 8th day of November, 1918,

and then and there be hanged by the neck until you are dead.

No!

This sentence is unspeakable!

You call this justice?

You don't even know the meaning of the word, sir.

Forget it. It's "Katy bar the door" for me. I'm done.

Sit down, Robbie.

Sit down.

Look, Ma, you fought, you spent all your money,

you got old followin' me from jail to jail.

It's time to douse the lights.

I told you before, Robbie, I will not let them kill you.

I'm going to Washington DC very soon.

- I haven't begun to fight. - Time's up.

You just don't know how to quit, do you, Ma?

Did you think Mother was gonna let them hurt my Robbie?

Carrying a petition for clemency,

Elizabeth Stroud doggedly haunted the offices of Washington officials,

in an effort to gain an audience with the president of the United States.

Finally, she managed to see Senator Ham Lewis.

He reminded her of the president's grave illness.

Grasping at straws, she pleaded with the senator

to make an appointment for her with the president's wife.

Reluctantly, he agreed.

Tell me, Mrs Stroud, why do you think the president should intervene?

Mrs Wilson, the president is known as the symbol of compassion

throughout the whole world.

I'm sure that deep in his heart

he doesn't believe in the brutality of an eye for an eye.

I've never seen your husband, but I've seen pictures of him.

He has the face of a man who has known great suffering.

I think he'd understand what it means to have the pack yapping at his heels.

Mrs Wilson, they've turned on your husband in his fight for peace.

- They've broken his heart. - Mrs Stroud, please.

There's only one man left in the world who can lend a helping hand to my son,

and that's the president.

Take the petition to him.

I assure you, I give you my solemn oath,

my son is a person of worth.

Save him.

Stroud! Listen!

Hey, do you hear that, you cons? President Wilson commuted Stroud to life!

Well, I'll be damned. She pulled it off.

Been expecting you, Harvey.

I have a telegram here from Washington.

You probably know about it.

I've heard.

I think you will live to regret that this wire ever came.

How come?

Because you're going to spend the rest of your life in deep-lock.

- Who says so? - The attorney general.

Remember the judge's sentence?

"And kept in solitary confinement until you are hanged by the neck."

But that ain't what the judge meant.

That's what the attorney general says he meant.

Look around you, Stroud.

This is going to be your home for as long as you live.